Manifolding mechanism for typewriters



Feb. 17, 1942.

Fig.1.

2 Sheets-Shee t 1 Uames InvenTor.

W. F'Qder Feb. 17, 1942.

J. w. FADER MANIFOLDING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed March 11, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 28 lnvenror.

Uames W. F'Qder Patented Feb. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEMANIFOLDING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in carrier mechanisms fortransfer sheets for manifolding a series of forms on a typewriter.

Modern business methods require manifold copies of various instrumentsor forms, such as bills of lading, shipping orders, bills of accounts,specifications, etc., and continuous sheets have been produced havingsuccessive forms with transverse perforations between adjacent formsthereby enabling the typist to fill out successive forms in multiple,progressively tearing off each set of multiple forms when they arecompleted.

The present invention relates to a carrier for the transfer sheetswhich, when the transfer sheets are connected to it, will permit aplurality of superposed form sheets to be interleaved with the transfersheets and progressively moved rearwardly to the adjacent form sheetwhen the typing of one form is completed.

In constructions of this character such as that disclosed in my priorPatent No. 2,141,064, granted December 20, 1938, the rear edges of therespective transfer sheets are connected respectively to superposed barsor strips, and the strips are connected at their ends together in suchmanner as to permit the form sheets to be interleaved therebetween. Theends of the bars or strips are secured together and to rearwardlyextending connectors having means detachably to engage a follower havingmeans for guiding the edges of the form sheets. When one set of formshas been manifolded upon a typewriter the platen of the typewriter isrotated in a direction reverse to the feeding direction until the formsheets and transfer sheets have been removed therefrom. The typist thengrasps the form sheets centrally, the transfer sheets having a centralrecess to permit the form sheets only to be grasped, and the typist thengrasping the follower draws the superposed transfer sheetslongitudinally of the form sheets until the transfer sheets areinterleaved with the next successive forms, then tears off the completedsheets and re-introduces the assembled forms and transfers into thetypewriter for further operations. By properly manipulating the carrierthe transfer sheets can be so positioned that the type will not impingeupon the'same area of the transfer sheet during the manifolding ofsuccessive sheets, thereby insuring plain impressions of the type uponthe several manifolded sheets.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel simplifiedform of carrier for a plurality of transfer sheets which can be sold asa unit and to which the transfer sheets may be readily connected insuperposed relation by the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified transfercarrier of the character described herein upon which the transfer sheetsmay be assembled at the factory and sold as a carbon pack. The carboncarrier and the carbon pack of the present invention is of such compactconstruction that a large number can be packaged in a single containertogether with a suitable novel follower and guide which can berepeatedly used in connection with the carriers or with the transferpack and new carriers and/0r transfer packs repeatedly ordered for thecontinued use of the follower.

More specifically the invention comprises a carrier for a plurality oftransfer sheets comprising a single integral sheet of thin flexibletough material provided with means for independently supporting themembers of a plurality of transfer sheets in superposed relation and soconstructed that the superposed form sheets may be readily interleavedwith the transfer sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier for aplurality of transfer sheets comprising a single integral carrier sheetof the character described having means for guiding the edges of theform sheet during their interleaved assemblage with the transfer sheetsand which is adapted in conjunction with the guide upon the follower tomaintain the transfer sheets in registry during the typing of the forms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier for aplurality of transfer sheets of the character described with connectorsat the sides of the carrier sheet extending rearwardly therefrom andhaving thickened end portions, which may be formed of superposed foldsof the sheet itself, adapted to engage suitable recesses in the endportions of the follower and guide.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of followerwhich can be readily detachably connected to the connectors of transfersheet carriers of the character described.

These and other objects and features of the invention will more fullyappear from the following description and the accompanying drawings andwill be particularly pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which, 7

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a carrier for a plurality of superposedtransfer sheets showing marginal side portions folded over adjacentportions of the sheet and illustrating in dotted lines the position ofthe marginal portions before the same is folded and also having abroken-away section illustrating the adhesive by which the marginalsections are secured to the sheet;

Fig. 2 is a similar plan view of the transfer carrier with a series ofform sheets interleaved with the transfer sheets and also illustratingthe follower which is detachably secured to connec tors integral withand extending from the rear of the body of the transfer sheet;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the manner in which thesuperposed form sheets and carrier sheets extend around the platen of atypewriter machine when in use;

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged View partially in section, on line 44 Fig.1, illustrating the carrier, the manner in which the form sheets areinterleaved with the transfer sheets, and also illustrating the mannerin which the carrier is connected to the follower and guide;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a preferred detachable connection between theconnectors of the carrier and the follower;

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged horizontal view on line 66 Fig. 4, of oneend portion of the carrier for the transfer sheets, viewed downwardly,and illustrating the manner in which the folded edges of the marginalportion of the carrier guide the superposed form sheets;

Fig. 7 is an underneath plan view of a preferred form of follower andguide, the end portions of the connectors being shown in dotted lines;and,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the follower and guide.

The carrier for the transfer sheet is formed entirely from a thin sheetof suitable tough flexible material, such as preferably tough paper, andis cut from the sheet to form a blank, the outline of which isillustrated in full and dotted lines in Fig. l, to provide a body Ihaving at its sides marginal portions 2 adapted to be folded on lines 3into parallelism with the body of the sheet. The forward edge 4 of thecarrier sheet is a straight line normal to the fold lines 3 for themargins 2. The rear portion of the rectangular blank desirably is cutaway along a preferably curved line 5 to provide rearwardly projectingconnectors 5 having thickened ends 1 adapted to engage suitable recessesin the follower, as hereinafter described. The thickened ends desirablyare formed by reversely folding the end portions of the connectors 6, asillustrated in Fig. 5, which also shows the manner in which they engagerecesses in the end portions of the follower.

The forward portion of the sheet is provided with a plurality or seriesof slits 8, 9, ll], etc.. which are parallel to the straight forwardedge of the carrier 6. and are preferably s aced from said edge and alsofrom each other suitable, preferably equal, distances. These slits areof a length slightly greater than the width of the sheets to bemanifolded and preferably extend to the fold lines 3 for the marginalportions 2 and provide therebetween parallel strips ll, l2, l3. etc.integral with the marginal portions of the sheet to which the rear edgeportions of transfer sheets, such as carbon sheets, may be secured.

The rear edges of the carbon sheets preferably have their upper ends l5folded over and adhesively secured to a strip ll, l2 or 13, as

illustrated in Fig. 4. The marginal portions 2 are suitably secured tothe face of the body I by adhesive H from a position slightly above theupper most slit Hi to the end of the connector portions 6 and alsodesirably the folded ends forming the thickened portions l, asillustrated in Fig. 7, are similarly adhesively connected to each otherand to the face of the sheet. The portions of the folded over marginsare not connected by adhesive, or otherwise, to the ends of the stripsll, l2, l3, and the marginal portions 2 are provided with roundedcorners E8 to avoid curling of the corners.

A suitable number of the carriers, as illustrated in Fig. l and abovedescribed, may be packaged and delivered to the user who may then attachthe transfer sheets in superposed relation to the several strips H, l2,I3, or if desired the transfer sheets may be secured to the strips H,i2, i3, at the factory, thereby forming what is usually known to thetrade as carbon packs, any number of which may be suitably packagedtogether with a suitable follower preferably of the characterhereinafter described.

The desired number of superposed form sheets may be introduced ininterleaved relation to the transfer sheets, as illustrated in Fig. 2which illustrates an original form sheet l9 which is printed directly bythe type of the typewriter and copy sheets 29, 2!, and 22, which areintroduced through the respective slits 8, 9, and ID in the carrier. Thefold 3 of the forward free marginal portions serves as guides for theside edges of the form sheets when they are inserted through therespective slits 8, 9, and Ill, and not only serve to facilitate theintroduction of the form sheets into the carrier, but also serve incombination with the follower to maintain the form sheets in properregistry during the typing operation.

Each of the carbon or transfer sheets is provided with a recess 23midway of its forward end portion so that the forward end portions ofthe form sheets may be grasped by the hand of the operator withoutpinching the transfer sheets between them for purposes which willhereinafter be described.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel form offollower and guide which will serve for the double purpose ofmaintaining the form sheets in proper registry and also provide meansfor moving the carrier with the transfer sheets to the successive formsupon the superposed form sheets. The follower is illustrated in Figs. 5,7, and 8, and comprises a tubular member 2 1, preferably of lightmaterial, such as aluminum or suitable plastic, having a substantiallyfiat face 25 which is provided at its ends with extensions 26 bent overin parallelism with the flat face. The follower 2!] is slightly greaterin length than the width of the form sheets and the inner curved walls27 of the bent-over edge portions serve as edge guides for thesuperposed form sheets. The tubular follower is provided at its endswith slots 23 extending inwardly from the ends a distance equal to orslightly greater than the width of the connectors B of the carrier andof a width just sufiicient to permit the connectors 6 of the carrier tobe easily inserted therein so that the thickened end i will lie with inthe barrel or tubular recess of the carrier and thereby lock the carrierto the follower.

When the form sheets have been interleaved with the transfer sheets inthe manner described the forward edge of the assemblage is inserted intothe typewriter and bent around the platen 29 thereof, as illustrated inFig. 3. The typist thereupon successively fills in the forms andprogressively removes the manifolded units in the usual manner abovedescribed.

By reason of the present invention a carrier for the transfer sheets iprovided which comprises only an integral sheet of thin tough materialseveral of which may be assembled with an equal number of followers forstorage or for sale to persons or concerns who prefer to apply transfersheets of their own selection to the carriers. Alternatively transfersheets may be assembled upon the carriers in the manner above describedat the factory to form transfer or carbon packs and assembled in smallpackages together with a single follower for shipment or sale. Where thecarbon packs are thus assembled other packages containing the carbonpacks only may be supplied to customers who have previously obtained apack containing the follower as the follower willlast indefinitely. Theform sheets can be assembled in the carrier or carbon pack speedily andwith minimum effort. The packages containing the carriers and/ or carbonpacks will occupy a minimum amount of space for storage and shipment.

These and many other advantages of the invention will be apparent tousers as will be readily understood by those familiar with the art.

It will be understood that the particular embodiment of the inventiondisclosed herein is of an illustrative character, that the carrier maybe made of integral sheets of any suitable material,

and that the sheet may be provided with any suitable number of slits atequal or other desired widths of spacing, and that various changes inconstruction may be made within the spirit of tough flexible materialhaving a straight front edge and provided with a series of slitsparallel to and suitably spaced from said front edge and from oneanother and of a length slightly greater than the width of the forms tobe manifolded and terminating short of the side edges of the carriersheet and providing strips therebetween to which the rear edge portionsof the respective transfer sheets may be attached, and having narrowmarginal side portions so folded over the ends of the slits that thefolds provide guides for the side edges of superposed form sheets to bemanifolded when said form sheets are inserted in interleaved relation tosaid transfer sheets.

2. A carrier for a plurality of superposed manifold transfer sheetscomprising a thin sheet of tough flexible material having a straightfront edge and provided with a series of slits parallel to and suitablyspaced from said front edge and from one another and of a lengthslightly greater than the width of the forms to be manifolded andterminating short of the side edges of the carrier sheet and providingstrips therebetween to which the rear edge portions of the respectivetransfer sheets may be attached, and having narrow marginal sideportions having rounded corners and so folded over the ends of the slitsthat the folds provide guides for the side edges of superposed formsheets to be manifolded when said form sheets are inserted ininterleaved relation to said transfer sheets, the rear central portionof the carrier sheet being cut away to provide connectors adapted to besecured to a follower and guide for the edges of the form sheets.

3. A carrier for a plurality of superposed manifold transfer sheetscomprising a thin sheet of tough flexible material having a straightfront edge and provided with a series of slits parallel to and suitablyspaced from said front edge and from one another and of a lengthslightly greater than the width of the forms to be manifolded andterminating 'short of the side edges of the carrier sheet and providingstrips therebetween to which the rear edge portions of the respectivetransfer sheets may be attached, and having narrow marginal sideportions having rounded corners and so folded over the ends of the slitsthat the folds provide guides for th side edges of superposed formsheets to be manifolded when said form sheets are inserted ininterleaved relation to said transfer sheets, the rear central portionof the carrier sheet being cut away to provide connectors adapted to besecured to a follower and means adhesively connecting the folded-overmarginal side portions of said sheet intermediate of the uppermost slitand the end of the connector acting to reenforce and stiffen theconnector.

4. A carrier for a plurality of superposed manifold transfer sheetscomprising a thin sheet of tough flexible material having a straightfront edge and provided with a series of slits parallel to and suitablyspaced from said front edge and from one another and of a lengthslightly greater than the width of the forms to be manifolded andterminating short of the side edges of the carrier sheet and providingstrips therebetween to which the rear edge portions of the respectivetransfer sheets may be attached, and having narrow marginal sideportions having rounded corners and so folded over the ends of the slitsthat the folds provide guides for the side edges of superposed formsheets to be manifolded when said form sheets are inserted ininterleaved relation to said transfer sheets, the rear central portionof the carrier sheet being cut away to provide connectors adapted to besecured to a follower and means adhesively connecting the folded-overmarginal side portions. '2- of said sheet intermediate of the uppermostslit and the end of the connector acting to reenforce and stiffen theconnector, the rear ends of the connectors being provided withsuperposed folds adapted to enter recesses in the end portions of afollower and guide for the superposed form sheets.

5. A carbon pack, for manifolding a series of forms on a typewriter,having a carrier comprising a thin sheet of tough flexible materialhaving a straight front edge and provided with a plurality of slitsparallel to and suitably spaced from said front edge and from oneanother and of such length as to permit the respective form sheets to beinserted through the respective slits and providing therebetweenparallel strips integral with the marginal portions of said sheets,transfer sheets having their rear edge portions wrapped around andadhesively secured to said strips, thereby reenforcing the same, therear edge portions of said sheet being cut away to provide connectorsand thickened end portions on said connectors adapted to engage recessesin the end portions of a follower and guide for the superposed sheets.

6. A carbon pack, for manifolding a series of forms on a typewriter,having a carrier comprising a thin sheet of tough flexible materialhaving a straight front edge and provided with a plurality of slitsparallel to and suitably spaced from said front edge and from oneanother and of such length as to permit the respective form sheets to beinserted through the respective slits and providing therebetweenparallel strips integral with the marginal portions of said sheets,transfer sheets having their rear edge portions secured to said strips,the marginal side portions of said carrier sheets having rounded frontcorners and being folded at the ends of said slits to form guides forthe side edges of the form sheets when being inserted through therespective slits, the central rear portions of the carrier sheet beingcut away to provide relatively narrow connectors reenforced by thefolded marginal portions, the rear ends of said connectors beingprovided with thickening means adapted detachably to engage recesses inthe end portions of a follower and guide for the superposed sheets.

'7. A carbon pack, for manifolding a series of forms on a typewriter,having a carrier comprising a thin sheet of tough flexible materialhaving a straight front edge and provided with a plurality of slitsparallel to and suitably spaced from said front edge and from oneanother and of such length as to permit the respective form sheets to beinserted through the respective slits and providing therebetweenparallel strips integral with the marginal portions of said sheets,transfer sheets having their rear edge portions secured to said strips,the marginal side portions of said carrier sheets having rounded frontcorners and being folded at the ends of said slits to form guides forthe side edges of the form sheets when being inserted through therespective slits, the central rear portions of the carrier sheet beingcut away to provide relatively narrow connectors reenforced by thefolded marginal portions, the rear ends of said connectors beingprovided with thickening means adapted detachably to engage recesses inthe end portions of a follower and guide for the superposed sheets, anda tubular follower provided with a substantially fiat under surface andhaving extensions bent into parallelism with said flat under surface andprovided with end slots adjacent said fiat surface to receive thethickened ends of said connectors.

JAMES W. FADER.

